Automatic volume controller



Jan. 22 1935. M. M. BORDEN 1,988,992

AUTOMATIC VOLUME CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 5, 1931 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1935. M, BORDEN 1,988,992

AUTOMATIC VOLUME CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 22, 1935 AUTOMATIC VOLUME CONTROLLER Moro M. Borden, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Simplex Valve and Meter Company,- Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware 1 Application February 5, 1931, Serial No. 513,686

16Claims; 21. 137-144) This invention relates to fluid delivery control apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for preventing violent initial discharge of fluid at a delivery point in responsev to opening of a valve 5 controlling delivery to such point.

In many instances delivery of fluid to a delivery point must not be made initially with a considerable force, this being particularly true of. delivery of wash water to the beds of filtering apparatus. 7

In this particular instance it is necessary not only that initial delivery shall not be made at any undue rate, but likewise that the delivery at any time shall not exceed a predetermined rate.

. It often happensthat with .the ordinary control apparatus for delivering wash water to filtering beds, careless workmen by suddenly opening the valve will cause the entire filter bed arrangement to be disarranged, theforce of the incoming wash water which is delivered at the bottom of the bed actually turning the bed up-side.-down,- and thoroughly intermingling the contents thereof in a manner necessitating entire rebuilding of the bed. While the installation of volume controllers or flow controllers in the line can prevent this action there is still a possibility of disruption of the bed in event a branch control valve, through careless handling, is too suddenly opened.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a valve in the main delivery line and the association with this valve of a means normally maintaining the valve in closed position against anopening force, which means is of such character that it gradually becomes inoperative after operation of a branch valve, and, therefore, permits the second valve to gradually open, so that if this second valve be the flow control va1ve,-it has an opportunity to adjust itself; to pressures gradually andto check the flow at the proper point, and if this valve is not a flow control, but merely a cut-off valve, and the line controlling cut-off, valve, the same condition will obtain.v l;

A still further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of this character in which the operation is entirely automatic with the opening :ofabranch control valve.

A still further object of the invention is'to provide inuapparatus of this characteran arrangement such that the amount of flow can be varied at. anytime from a central station at which the controls for the branchesare disposed. I

. Theseand other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, whereinlforthe purpose of illustration Ihave line against the diaphragm, or some similaropto adjust itself through pressure differentials to shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view illustrating flow control apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;v and Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view through the flow control valve.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a supply main; 11 a branch valve controlling discharge 10 from the main 10 through apipe 12 to a desired discharge point, as for example, a filterbed; 13 a hydraulic control cylinder for operation of valve 11;. and 14 a valve controlling the operation of the cylinder 13. In accordance with my inven- 15 tion I place in the main 10 a'second valve 15 which is preferably avolume control valve of vthe movable valve element, and provided with .a counterweight 18. The counterweight 18 tends to maintain the valve 17 in open position against the action of the differential pressures of the flow erating element 19 likewise connected tothe valve stem 17. It will be obvious that when the main pressures are equalized, as when there is no discharge from the main 10, the counterweight 18 will move the'valve to its full open position, with .theresult that under certain abnormal conditions a sudden rush of water through the flow line may by-pass the valve before it has had time the proper position to regulate this flow to the 0 desired amount.

I, accordingly, extend the lever 16 to the opposite sideof the pivot 16-a thereof, as indicated at 20; and upon this end of the lever I arrange a counterweighting mechanism which is of sumcient size to overcome the action of counterweight 18 and normally move the valve element to closed position. This counterweighting mechanism is made of such character that it maybe gradually reduced, consisting in the present instance of a closed tank having an inlet 22 at its bottom, which inlet communicates through a flexible conduit 24 and a suitable regulating valve25-with a source of fluid under pressure represented in thepresent instance by a conduit 26. It will be obvious that control valve 25 being open, conduit 26 will tend to force water into the tank 21 until the pressure of air trapped in this tank equals the pressure of the incoming water, when flow will cease. At this time counterweight 21 will have a greater effective force and the valve elements 17 will be in theirrclosedposition. A bleed valve 27 is provided for .the main or pressurer'source 26, and it will be obvious that upon this bleed valve being opened, pressure in the conduit 26 will drop, permitting the pressure of the trapped air in tank 21 to drive the water therefrom, so that the weight of the counterweight is gradually .reduced, :the

ment of the valve 25.

In order that operation of the bleed valve 27 may be coordinated with operation of valve 11,

this valve is preferably of the hydraulic type, and

is controlled by branches 28 and 29 of the supply lines '28a and 29-a leading from the cylinder control valve 13. When pressure is supplied to th'ecylinder through operationo'f valve 14 to open valve 11, the bleed valve 27 is simultaneously opened, and when pressure is supplied to this cyl- .inder to close the valve '11, the bleed valve is simultaneously closed.

It will also be obvious that where a plurality of discharge lines 1 2 branch from the main 10, and "regulation of the flow is'desired in each of those branches, this regulation may be had by simply providing in the main 26 bleed valve 27 for each control valve -11, andconnecting these additional bleed valves 27 for operation simultaneously with 'the valves 11.

While I have in the present instance indicated the valves 27 as automatically operated in conjunction with discharge line control valves, and as of the hydraulic type, it will be, of course, obvious that operation of the valves 27 might be had in other ways, and might if so desired be made independent'of the valves 11, as suggested by the provision of a manually operated control "valve 27--a in the conduit '26.

It will,of course, be obvious that in an arrangementof this character it is often essential that the rate of fiow through the flow controller be varied. To this end the container 18 has in communication therewith at a point below the level of liquid therein a flexible tube 18a communicating through a conduit l8--b with a control valve 18-0 of the three-Way type. The conduit -1-8b through a branch pipe 18-12 communicates with the float chamber of a float-operated indicator providing an indication, when the counter-weight '18 is in its raised position, of the depth of fluid therein and, accordingly, of the weight of the counter-weight and thus indirectly an indication of the flow for which the flow controller is set. Through three-way valve l8--c the conduit '18-b may be placed either in communication with a .supply pipe l8e.or awaste 18 -1. Bylocating the operating handle of valve l8-c and the-floatoperated indicator at a point convenient to .the manipulating controls for valves -11 the delivery of a desired quantity of fluid through flow controller 18 and to the selectedbranch maybe readily regulated. v While I have herein illustrated a particular for m of flow controller, it will be obvious that the arrangement illustrated is applicable to substantially any flow controller as, for example, a flow controller such as shown in my copending aprplication, Serial No. 229,423 filed October 28, 1927 for improvements in flow controllers.

I claim:

1. Means for preventing a violent initial discharge of fluid at a delivery point comprising a flow line for the fluid containing two valves, means associated with one valve for applying thereto two opposed forces, one tending to close and the other to open the same, the first-named force :being the greater, and means rendered operative by opening of the other valve I'Lfor=gradu ally reducing the first-named force to thereby en- 'able gradual opening of the first-named valve.

2. In combination with a valve, a lever directly connected to said valve for operating said valve,

, means on .said lever biasing the valve to open amount of reduction depending upon theadjustposition, :a counterweight on said lever opposing said biasing meansand having normally a greater force than the biasing means, said counterweight comprising a closed receptacle containing liquid and air under pressure, a second valve openable to permit discharge of the liquid from the receptacle, and meansoperable from a remote point 'for opening said second valve.

, 3. Incombination with a valve, means biasing the valve :to open position, a counterweight opposing said biasing means :and having normally a *greater force than the biasing means, said counterweight comprising a closed receptacle containing "liquid and air under pressure, a valve openable to permit discharge of the liquid from movable valve element determining the flow rate through the movable valve element under influ- "ence of varying head-pressures on the valve element acting in the absence of flow to shiftthe valve element of the flow controller to open position, a second means associated with said valve element and acting thereon with greater force than the first-named means tending to 'move the valve element to closed position and means operative upon opening of the valve controlling discharge "to the delivery point for gradually reducing the force exerted by the means tending to move the valve element to closed position.

5. In combination with two valves disposed in a common line, one to regulate the rate of flow and the other to regulate discharge to a desired delivery point, means biasing the first-named valve to open position, a closed receptacle opposing said biasing means and containing liquid and air under pressure, said receptacle normally exerting a greater force than the biasing means whereby the first-named valve is normally in closed position and means operated as an incident to opening of the's'econd-na'med valve venting said receptacle to permit escape of the liquid therefrom.

6.'In combination with two valves disposed in a common'line, one to regulate the rate of flow said receptacle to permit escape of the liquid therefrom and adjustable means for determining the rate of discharge of liquid from said receptacle.

'7. In combination with a valve, means biasing the valve to open position, a counterweight opposing said biasing means and having normally a greater force than the biasing means, said counterweight comprising a closed receptacle containing liquid and air under pressure, a valve openable to permit discharge of the liquid from the container, said biasing means comprising an open top container, and means operable from a remote point for introducing liquid to or withdrawing liquid from said container.

8. In combination with a valve, means biasing the valve to open position, a counterweight opposing said biasing means and having normally a greater force than the biasing means, said counterweight comprising a closed receptacle containing liquid and air under pressure, a valve openable to permit discharge of the liquid from the container, said biasing means comprising an open top container, means operable from a remote point for introducing liquid to or withdrawing liquid from said container, and an indicator associated with said means and indicating the depth of liquid in said container.

9. In combination with a valve, biasing means constantly tending to open the same, a counterweight of greater force opposing the biasing .means and normally maintaining the valve in closed position, means for gradually reducing the effective weight of the counterweight thereby permitting the biasing means to open the valve, and means independent of the last-named means and operable from a remote point for varying the efiective value of the biasing means.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein means are provided operable at a remote point for rendering operative the means gradually reducing the effective weight of the counterweight.

11. In combination with a flow line, a regulating valve disposed therein, a second valve opened as an incident to production of flow in the flow line, hydraulic means to maintain the regulating valve closed, hydraulic means to open and close the second valve, and means to render the first named hydraulic means inoperative when the last named hydraulic means is operated to open the valve.

12. In combination with a flow line, a regulating valve disposed therein, a second valve opened as an incident to production of flow in the flow line, hydraulic means to maintain the regulating valve closed, hydraulic means to open and close the second valve, and means to render the first named hydraulic means gradually inoperative when the last named hydraulic means is operated to open the valve.

13. In combination with a flow line, two valves disposed therein, means to rapidly open one valve, a second means to gradually open the second valve, a third means whereby operation of the first-named means renders said second means operative, and means independent of all the aforesaid means to control said second valve when opened, by the flow through the conduit.

14. In combination with a flow line, two valves disposed therein, means to rapidly open one valve, means to gradually open the second valve, means to simultaneously institute operation of the said valve-operating means, and means independent of all of the aforesaid means to control said second valve when opened, by the flow through the conduit.

15. In combination with a flow line, a regulating valve disposed therein, a second valve opened as an incident to production of flow in the flow line, means to gradually open the firstnamed valve, means to rapidly open the lastnamed valve, means whereby operation of the last-named means renders the first-named means effective, and means independent of the aforesaid means to position the regulating valve by the flow through the flow line.

16. In combination with a flow line, a regulating valve disposed therein, a second valve opened as an incident to production of flow in the flow line, means to gradually open the firstnamed valve, means to rapidly open the lastnamed valve, means to simultaneously render said valve opening means effective, and means independent of the aforesaid means to position the regulating valve by the flow through the flow line.

MORO M. BORDEN. 

